Heart and Stroke Encyclopedia

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Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart's electrical system malfunctions, and the heart suddenly stops beating ? often without warning. While the terms "sudden cardiac arrest" and "heart attack" are often used as if they are synonyms, they aren't. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack, or during recovery. Heart attacks increase the risk for sudden cardiac arrest, but most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.